The Democrats are going to take over the House. The Democrats are going to take over the Senate. This is all you see and hear in the media today. And, if the election were held at this moment, I would predict that the Republicans would lose the House.
However, there are still about two weeks left before Election Day, and in politics, two weeks can make all the difference. When it comes to the national midterm elections, all of this new momentum on the Left has originated from Mark Foley, who deserves the backlash he is receiving. What we must remember, however, is that not every Republican is a Mark Foley, just as not every Democrat is a William Jefferson.
As soon as Americans sit down and focus on the issues that matter to them most, they are going to agree with Republicans. The most important issue this election cycle, as it was in 2002 and 2004, should be national security. The Patriot Act and its recent renewal are the results of a Congress that understands the threat we face; it allows the country to track possible terrorist activity and trends that suggest terrorism. The National Security Agency (NSA) telephone surveillance program, which has undeservedly received much criticism from the Nancy Pelosis and Harry Reids of the world, monitors phone calls that are made with known Al Qaeda contacts overseas. It would be rather difficult to find a counter-terrorist who would not want to know why Americans are contacting Al Qaeda.
The everyday American needs to know that if he is not doing anything wrong, these security programs are not going to affect him. These programs are only making the country safer.
When it comes to the war in Iraq, the Democrats who are trailing in the polls are the ones who are calling for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops. The great majority of Americans realize that a move like that would be irresponsible. There is clearly a split among the Democrats over the Iraq issues. There are those on the far left, including Nancy Pelosi and Ned Lamont, who are calling for withdrawal, and others like Hillary Clinton who are proposing plans for success in Iraq. As can be seen just by looking at the Senate race in Connecticut, where Joe Lieberman has a double-digit lead in the polls, the people of a liberal-leaning state prefer a responsible, candid, candidate like Joe Lieberman over Ned Lamont's "cut and run" strategy.
If Americans truly want to succeed in Iraq, the GOP is producing the candidates that are going to be committed to win the war in Iraq, and not admit defeat.
Finally, when you look at the economy, the Dow just passed 12,000, unemployment fell to 4.6 percent for the month of September, and gas prices have recently dropped below two dollars a gallon in parts of the country. Those who are going to the polls with their wallets in mind would be smart to elect Republicans who, with the Bush tax cuts, have created the economic boom we're seeing at the moment. A House led by a "Speaker Pelosi" would not allow the Bush tax cuts to be permanent, thus stifling the economic progress the country is currently experiencing.
With more money, a much better "get out the vote" organization, and the minds and wallets of America on their side, no one should underestimate the Republicans' ability to maintain majorities in both houses.
Moving to the gubernatorial race, the Massachusetts voters will go to the polls on Nov. 7 and elect Kerry Healey and Reed Hillman as the next Governor and Lt. Governor of this great commonwealth.
While momentum from the Primary and the chants of "Yes we can! Yes we can!" have given Deval Patrick a lead in the polls in the governor's race, it has been an ever-declining lead. People are starting to ask the question "Yes you can...do what?"
The only answers I've been able to find are that Patrick can be a rubber stamp for the Massachusetts Legislature's spending proposals. Deval Patrick can give illegal immigrants living in the Commonwealth in-state tuition and driver's licenses. Deval Patrick can raise taxes to an exorbitant level, driving out residents and driving out businesses- this is the reason Massachusetts is one of the few states whose population is actually decreasing. Finally, Deval Patrick can release criminals from prison without knowing the complete facts of a case; a rapist can fool him because he happens to be well spoken. This is the type of environment Deval Patrick can produce, and "together we can" stop this from happening, and maintain a two-party system in Massachusetts.
According to Healey, the Massachusetts legislature is composed of 87 percent Democrats. With such a huge majority, the voters of Massachusetts have had the common sense to provide a check on the legislature by voting for Republican governors since 1990. Kerry Healey is campaigning to stand up to relentless spending, to be tough on criminals and sex offenders, and to be fiscally responsible by returning the money in our budget surplus back to the people who voted for a tax rollback in the year 2000. In addition, she supports an incentive program to pay our teachers who are performing above good level, while maintaining a level of expectations from students with the MCAS testing system, a graduation requirement. She is providing smart solutions to problems that the people of Massachusetts are going to agree with.
Deval Patrick is currently riding the wave of a primary victory and his likeability. I have news for Deval Patrick: he better hope people still enjoy his personality on Nov. 7 and they don't start looking at specific issues, because they are going to start jumping off his bandwagon.
This is the exact reason Patrick will not debate Healey one-on-one; after a one-on-one debate, it'll be clear to Deval that "No He Can't."
